Scottish ThistleThe prickly purple Scottish Thistle is the national emblem of Scotland. Legend states that invading Danish forces were creeping up on a sleeping Scottish encampment patrolled by one sentry. The Danes were barefooted when one of them stepped on the thistle and let out a cry of pain. This cry awoke the Scots who immediately leaped to their defence and defeated the Danish. The plant which saved them became known as the “Guardian Thistle”.